What a lovely warm hug of a book this is...comfort and joy, indeed. Rentzebrink has penned a wonderful book about books — one of the best I've read, especially for a direct memoir (i.e., I've been sitting around thinking about the books I've read over my lifetime and what they've meant to me).

"Reading built me and always has the power to put me back together again."

Rentzenbrink begins with setting a scene of unpacking, being surrounded by boxes and finding relief for her sore back by lying flat on the floor with a book beneath her head like a pillow. Books for the weary. She then takes the reader along for a ride back through the important touchstones of books and reading in and around her life. From the loss of her brother, her mother, and a pregnancy through miscarriage to the late-in-life joy reading has meant for her father, Rentzenbrink brings along the special touch only a bookworm, booklover, bookseller, and author / writer can provide.

Along the way, as she takes you through her book-loving life, Rentzenbrink sorts by topic (after chronology) and at the end of each segment gives the dear reader of the title a list of books, along with a quick summary, that she'd recommend for the topic she's just covered.

This was just such a delight — I haven't had a book about books that was this joyful (and not schmaltzy) in a long time. Plus, it knew itself and never overstayed its welcome.

Audiobook, as read by the author: Such perfect narration can only be had by an author who is also a good reader...not always the case, but definitely so here with Rentzenbrink. I felt the intimacy and confidences shared immediately and throughout. She has a warm and emotive voice, perfect for reading any book, most especially her own.